Do you book your doctors’ appointments in advance?  A little planning now can help you keep up with important health checks that could save your life one day.

Routine mammograms are one of those important checks. When breast cancer is found early, the five-year survival rate is 99 percent.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month — a good time to schedule your mammogram. The truth is, you can have one any month. Just choose a date and schedule yours. It’s a big step toward reducing your risk for breast cancer.

Need to find a doctor to schedule your mammogram? Use our Provider Finder^® tool to see what doctors, hospitals and urgent care centers are in your Medicare plan’s network. Log in to Blue Access for Members^SM and click on Find Care.

• Book time before appointments fill up
• Confirm your preferred location is in-network
• Earn a $25 reward when you register for the Rewards program*

Cancer screening exams, like mammograms, are designed to find cancers early when they can be treated with better success.

Here are some ways you can get ready for your mammogram. They just might help make your screening easier.

Get Ready for Your Mammogram

Millions of women get mammograms every year. Wondering what to do before your exam? Here’s some advice  from a mammographer at John Hopkins Medical Imaging.    

• Wear something comfortable and easy to remove. You’ll undress from your waist up and wear a gown.
• Don’t wear perfume, deodorant or powder. They may look like white spots on the x-ray.

Be ready to talk about any breast changes or symptoms you’ve noticed. Your health care team needs to know this vital information.

If you see a new doctor or change your screening location, have your previous mammograms sent to the new location before your appointment. This will let the radiologist compare the images and check for changes in your breasts. 

Review Your Results

After your screening, your results will be sent to your doctor for review. Next, you’ll likely get a letter in the mail with your mammogram results.

Your doctor can let you know when you should have your next screening. The letter may also have recommendations for next steps. Follow up with your doctor about any questions. 

Enjoy Prevention’s Rewards

After your mammogram, you may earn a $25 gift card. BCBSIL Medicare Advantage members can earn rewards for taking good care of themselves. Just a friendly reminder, you need to register for the Rewards program to earn rewards.

Would you like to get more content like this? Sign up for a Connect account today. 

*Registration is required to participate. Visit www.BlueRewardsIL.com  to register and see what Healthy Actions earn rewards. Maximum annual rewards of $100 in gift cards. One reward per Healthy Action per year. Healthy Action dates of service must be in the current plan year. Healthy Actions that earn rewards are subject to change.

BCBSIL makes no endorsement, representations or warranties regarding third-party vendors and the products and services offered by them.

Sources: About Breast Cancer: Early Detection,  National Breast Cancer Foundation; Mammogram 101: Q&A with a Mammographer,  John Hopkins Medicine

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Originally published 5/30/2017; Revised 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024